Bowling pin setting apparatus



1940- G. J. SCHMIDT 2,208,605

BOWLING PIN SETTING APPARATUS Filed Sept: 17, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 a WWW July 23, 1940.

G. J. SCHMIDT BOWLING PIN SETTING AP PARA TUS Filed Sept. 17, 1936 '7 Sheets-Shet 2 July23, 1940. G, J SCHWDT, 2,208,605

BOWLING rm SETTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1936 7 Sheets-Shet s y 1940- G; J. SCHMIDT BOWLING PIN SETTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 17, 1936 y 0- G. J; SCHMIDT 2,208,605

' bownme PIN SETTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5- July 23, 1940. a. J. SCHMIDT BOWLING PIN SETTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 A July 23, 1940. v G SCHWDT 2,208,605

BOWLING PIN SETTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 54 Gail/heat .zs lmzmi.

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f which have been knocked down: it is necessary Ina-tic p ra i n- Patented July 23, 1940 v i 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Gottfried J. Schmidt, Pearl River, N; Y., assignor I to Bowling Patents Management Corporation,

a corporation or New York 'sppueaa September 17, 1936, Serial No. 101,332

' 'sa Claims. (01. 213-42 My invention relates to pin setting apparatus positions which theypreviously occupied upon for bowling alleys. i 4 the bed.. As is well known, the proper setting of pins ,A further object or the invention is to proupon the bed of a bowling alley necessitates the vide suction means for handling the pins during accurate spotting of the pins so that they 'are their several manipulations. v 5

concentric with the spots. This accurate setting A further object of the invention is to provide of thepins causes the pins to assume the proper apparatus of the above mentioned character, positions, when starting the game. It frequently embodying a pin handling unit which is inverted happens that after one or more balls are thrown, during its operation, to set and reset the pins, and some of the pins knocked down, that the thus providing a simplified construction for this 10 remaining standing. pins have been struck suflipurpose. I a a l ciently so that they are shifted laterally and A further object of the invention is'to proare not concentric with the 'spots., In order vide apparatus of the abovementioned character that the bed may be swept to remove the pins which is of simplified construction and autoto remove the standing pins to permit "oi the Other objects and advantages of the invensweeping and subsequent returning of the standtion will be appar nt durin h cou e of he ing pins to the precise positions which they prefollowing description. 4 y viously occupied, regardless of whether they have In the accompanying drawings iorming a part been somewhat displaced, of this application and in which like numerals 20 My apparatus is so constructed that the pin are employed to designate like parts throughsetting unit will properly'engage with the standout the same. 1 ing pins, regardless of whether they occupy Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pin setting positions concentric with the spots or have been, pp r em y my vention, showing th ,s 2 shifted laterally so that they are ofl-center with carrier in the raised position, respect to the spots. The apparatus will Figure 2 is'a perspective view of the guide or properly engage and elevate the pins to permit trackmeans, and associated elements, of the sweeping oi the knocked down pins and Fi re -2 is a de ile nl d View Of he will reset the remaining standing pins in the two ay S Parts in S I precise positions they previously occupied, Figure 3 is a di ramm c Vi w Of the valve 30 whether concentricor eccentric with respect to device, showing its cycle of operation, the spots. Figure 4 is -a side elevation, parts broken Attempts have heretofore'been made to, pro-I V away,-Ishowing the carrier shifted to the lowered 5 duce a pin setting apparatus, but these have not position. v

36 proven to be wholly satisfactory. One reason Figure 5 is a central vertical longitudinal secwhy they have not proven wholly satisfactory is tion through thetrack or guide means, that they cannot properly engage the pins stand; Figure '6 is a' section taken on line 6-6 of ing to raise them, if such pins are eccentric with Figure 5, respect to the spots=on the bowling alley bed and Fi 7 is a from? elevation h pp r a return the pins to the precise positions which Fisureiiis a Pl V Of fl ri 4Q they occupied before being raised. A further Figure 9 are side elevation oi the same, disadvantage is that these pin setters have Figure 10 avei'ticai section taken 0!! line mechanical means to engage with the pins, which Of Figure In accordancewith my invention, the proper resettin s on d vi es.

-- has resulted in very complicated structures. Fig r 1 15 bottom D 11 V w Of one of the 45 handling of the pins, whether concentric or Figure 12 is a side elevation of the sam l ris eccentric with respect to the spots, is acin sectiomi g complished by suction means with the result Figure 13 is a detailed section thro gh a modithat the organization is greatly simplified, fled form oi suction resetting device,

An important object of the invention is to pro- Figure 141s a plan view of the same,

vide means to accurately set the pins upon the 8 5 an exploded perspective View of bed of the alley, raise the remaining standing the carrier and associatedelements, pins after the ball has been thrown. and then Figure 16 is a section taken on line accurately reset such pins in the, true, l6- lt, o.1ugure 8, I 55 I of the alley, Figures 1, 5 and 7, having the usual spots 2|. At the forward end of the bed 29 is the usual pit 22. The numeral 23 designates the usual partitions, one of which is provided with the ball return track or runway 24. The numeralv 25 designates the bowling pins.

The resetting apparatus for each alley comprises a pair of spacedvertical grooved tracks or guides 26, which are preferably U-shaped in cross-section. The upper ends of the vertical roller from the branch 3| into the branch 33.

tracks are rigidly connected with a horizontal frame or support 21. and their lower ends are rigidly attached to the partitions 23. I Each grooved track 26 is provided with a laterally extending portion 29, including an upperbranch 30 and a lower branch 3| connected by an intermediate curved portion 32. The upper and lower branches 30 and 3| are inclined vertically and diverge toward the vertical track 26. Each vertical grooved track 26 is also provided with a third laterally extending grooved branch 33, which leads into the grooved track 26 inwardly of and near the upper end of the branch 38 and leads into the portion 29 adjacent to the curved intermediate portion 32. The upper branch 30 also leads into the outer end of the branch 33, adjacent to the curved'portion 32, and a pivoted gate 35 is arranged to control the passage of the The gate 35 is pivoted at 36 adjacent'to its upper end. The gate 35 is forced inwardly by a spring 31. The gate has a stop shoulder 38 at its lower end. It is thus seen that a roller travelling downwardly through the branch 30 will depress the gate 35 and pass the same to enter the lower branch 3|, but when this roller travels upwardly through the branch 3|, it will engage the stop shoulder 38 and be deflected thereby into the branch 33. A gate 39 is pivoted at 48 and has astop shoulder 4| and is arranged adjacent to the union of the branch 33 and the track 26. This gate is springpressed and is similar to the gate 35 and will serve to permit the roller travelling upwardly through the branch 33 to enter the vertical track 26, but will prevent the roller entering the upper end of the branch 33 when it moves downwardly in the track 26. A second pivoted gate 42 is arrangedadjacent to the union of the upper end of the branch 30 with the track 26 and has a top shoulder 43. This gate jis spring-pressedand similar to the gate 35. This gate 42 will deflect the roller'from the grooved track 26 into the upper end of branch- 38- upon the downward movement of the roller. When the rollermoves upwardly in the track 26 beneath the gate 42,

it will depress the gate and move past it to the upper portion of the track 26. Arranged at the junction of the lower end of the branch 3| and the track 26 is a-two-way gate 44, pivoted at 44' and having a spring catch' 45' to, releasably hold the gate in the shifted position."

The apparatus embodies a carrier designated as a whole by the numeral 45.

. tion with each other.

This carrier com-.

prises an intermediate preferably rectangular frame 46, see particularly Figure 15, preferably formed of pipes. The frame 46 comprises sides 41 and ends 48, connected by tubular couplings The numeral 58 designates a triangular setting frame, preferably formed of pipes and including a base 5| and sides 52, which converge, as shown. The base 5| and sides 52 are connected by elbows 53, included in the couplings.

A tubular coupling 54 is connected in the base.

5| and has connection with a pipe 55, extending toward the converging ends of the sides 52 and connected with a tubular coupling. 56, also connected with the converging ends of the sides 52.

The tubular coupling 56 is formed integral with a tubular coupling 51 carried by. the end 48, as shown. The tubular coupling 54 is formed integral with a tubular coupling 58 carried by the other end 48, these couplings having communica- Arranged upon the opposite side of the frame 46 is a resetting triangular frame 59', preferably formed of pipes including a base 59, connected with converging sides 60 by tubular elbows 6|. The elbows 6| are preferably formed integral with the adjacent elbows 49 and communicate therewith. The sides 68 converge in one direction for connection with a tubular coupling 62, also connected with a pipe 63 extending to the base 59 and connected with a tubular coupling 64. The coupling 64 is formed integral with the coupling 51 and the coupling 56, and these tubular couplings are in communication with each other. The coupling 62 is formed integral with the coupling 58 and the coupling 54, and these tubular couplings are in communication with each other.

It is thus lar arrangement of the bowling pins, when placed in spotted position upon the bed of the bowling alley, except that the base of the group of suction devices before the carrier in inverted is posi- I tioned next tothe player, so that the number one suction device will be arranged next to the player when the carrier is inverted, ina manner to be described. Each suction device comprises a flexible suction cup 66, secured to a tubular nipple 61, in communication with the bore of the setting frame 50. The suction cup 66 is preferably formed of rubber and is of a suitable size to fit over the end portion of the head end of the'bowling pin 25. The nipple 61 has a passage 68 adapted to establish communication between the .bore of the frame 50 and the interior of the 'suctioncup, such communication being controlled by a spring actuated self closing valve 69, having a stem'lll, projecting into the suction cup 66,1-and adapted to be engaged and moved by thehead .end of the bowling pin, to unseat the valve element of the valve 69. It might be stated a at this point that before the head end of the bowling pin passes into the suction cup, that the valve 69 is closed, whereby the suction within thebore of the setting frame is not transmitted to the suction -cup, but as soon as the head end of the bowling pin enters the suction cup 66 sufli- -ciently so that the suction cup may have proper suction cup 88, which will have proper holding action'with the head end of the bowling pin. Each suction device is preferably provided with a wire guard or stabilizing device H, which is rigidly attached. to the setting frame adjacent to the 'sucetion device. This guard is tapered and increases in diameter outwardly and is preferably adapted to suitably engage with the intermediate or body portion of the bowling pin, to hold the same against any perceptible tilting action with respect to the suction cup, when the carrier is being inverted. The guard includes a ring 12 and resilient rods 13. The ring 12 is of a greater diameter than the head end of the pin but of a smaller-diameter thanthe largest diam;-

eter of the pin, and the ring will engage the pin inserted therein in an inverted position, at a .point above its center of gravity, whereby the pin will automatically assume a vertical position while its head end engages the suction cup.

The resetting frame. 58 carries resetting suction devices 14, also adapted to engage with the head end of the pins. These resetting devices arearranged in a spaced triangular group corresponding to the arrangement of the pins, when spotted for playing. The triangular groups of suction devices taper in opposite directions; and

the apex of one triangular group is at the base of the other triangular group, at a point equi distantly spaced from the opposite ends of the tubular nipple l8 and preferably has a coil spring 18 embedded therein, to impart to the shank a suitable'stiffness' against lateral movement. This spring 18 may also be arranged upon the interior of the shank 11', if desired. A valve device 18 is mounted in each tubular nipple and includes a spring pressed valve bodyyadapted to be opened by a stem 88, connected with the valve body and arranged within the suction cup I1; It might be stated at this point that before the suction cup is brought into engagement with or proximity to the head end of the pin, that the valve body of the valve device 18 is closed, therefore cutting off communication between the interior of the shell '15 and the interior of the suction cup. 11.- However, when the head'end of the pin'is moved into the suction cup ll, it engages and moves the stem 88, unseating the valve body, whereby suction is transmitted from the shell 15 to the suction cup I1. As before stated, the tubular nipples I8 are so arranged that they are also disposed in triangular groups of three over the' entire area of the shell 15. The suction cups 11 extend throughout substantially the entire area of the shell 18-, and the shell has a diameter considerably larger than the diameter of the head end of the pin. This is an important feature of the invention. If the pin is off-center with'respect to the spot on the bed of the bowling alley, when the shell II descends in resetting the pins, in a manner to be described, the shell 15 is concentric with respect to the corresponding spot, while the pin is eccentric with respect to the spot. However,

suction device iswconsiderably larger than the head end of the pin, it will properly engage-with the head end of the pin, if it is in the concentric or' eccentric position with respect to the spot. As the resetting suction device engages the head end of the pin, three suction cups will at 'all times engage therewith, and their valves will be unseated so that the three suction cups will have .holding engagement with the head end of the pin. This is true if the pin is concentric with its 10 spot or eccentric with relation thereto for only a slight distance, or for a considerable distance. In Figures 11 and 12 the suction cups II are shown as preferably separate and arranged in close relation, while the invention is not restricted 5 to this arrangement. In Figures 13 and 14, the suction cups ll are shown as connected at their lips with a web orsheet 8i and also at their stems 17' by webs 82. By having three suction cups always engaging the head end of the pin, the pin 20 will be suspended in a truly vertical position, when being moved from and toward the bed of the bowling alley, thus rendering it'possible to return the pin to the precise position on the bed that they occupied before being lifted therefrom, 5

regardless of whetherthe pin was concentric or eccentric with respect to the spot. The invention is not restricted to employing three cups H in a group, as any suitable number of cups may be used, when properly arranged in the group.

As more clearly shown in Figures 10 and 11, thesuction devices are of such shape and size that they receive the reduced extremity of the head ends of the pins. It is preferred that the suction cup be smaller than the maximum diam- 85 eter of the headend'of the pin, so that "it will only engage with the reduced extremity of the head end of the pin. Since. this reduced extremity iswell within the maximum diameter of the.

head end, it is protected to a considerable extent 4 against injury, such as dents and scars, due to the falling or movement of the pins when struck, with the result that such reduced extremity ordinarily retainsa smooth or unscarred surface,

thusassuring an air tight contact between the 45 reduced extremity and the suction device or cup. The carrier 45 is arranged between the-two tracks 28, as clearly shown in Figures .7 and 8.

The carrier is rigidly mounted upon horizontal rock shafts 84, Figures 8, 9, 15 and 18, which are 5 attached to the sides 4'! of' the frame 46. The rock shafts 84 extendinto couplings 85, and are clamped therein, as shown at 88. The rock shafts 84 are journalled in bearings 81, which are rigidly bolted to plates 88,. rigidly secured to vertically 5g movable carriages 88. These carriages travel upon the outer sides of the tracks 26 and have guide rollers 88. The carriages are raised by cables 8| extending upwardly to be passed about drums 82, rotated" by motors 88. or the like. go

against turning movement, and movable verti- 85 orally with the carriage 88. The disk 88 is provided upon its inner face 81 with a circularly curved elongatedgroove 88, concentric with the shaft-84, and extending throughout 180. v(Joacting with the stationary disk 88 is a companion disk 88, having a central opening through which the shaft 84 passes, and having a port I88 passing through itsinner face and in permanent com-- U munication with the groove 88. The port Hill has since the effective suction area of the resetting communication withthe hereof the frame 48. 15

' Rigidly connected with the outer ends of the rock shafts 84 are cranks IOI, carrying rollers Ij02 at their free ends, and these rollers are adapted to travel within the grooved tracks 26 and their several branches, in a manner to be described.

A suction pipe I03 is connected with each stationary disk 96 and is in permanent communication with the curved groove 98. This suction. pipe may be in the form of a flexible hose and is connected at its upper end with a pipe I04, which leads to a source of vacuum or suction, such as a suction pump I05. A two-way valve I06 is connected in each pipe I04, and is adapted to alternately place the hose I03 in communication with insuring a quick and uniform application.

In Figure 20, I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention, whereby the groove 98 is alternately placed in communication with the source of vacuum, or in communication with the atmosphere. This means comprises a valve which I preferably mount adjacent to each valve disk 96, and rigidly attach thereto. This valve comprises a casing I09, having oppositely arranged vacuum supply ports H0 and III. The port I I I is in permanent communication with the curved groove 98. The casing also has a vacuum breaking port H2, in permanent communication with the atmosphere. A valve body H3 is mounted to turn within the casing I09 and has a main'port II4, to connect ports H0 and ,III, and a branch port II5 also adapted to register with the port III, while the remote end of port II4 will register with port H2. The valve body means may be employed, in the form of a dash II 3 is turned by means of a lever II6, rigidly connected therewith. The downward movement of this lever is limited by a stationary stop I I1 carried by the casing I09. The lever is moved downwardly by a spring II8, so that port II4 will connect ports H0 and III. The valve body II3 preferably has suflicient frictional engagement within the casing I09 and the spring H8 is of such a strength that it will return the lever II6 to the lowered position, relatively slowly, for a purpose to be described. If desired, additional pot to retard the downward movement of the lever due to the actiorrof the spring II8. I The lever II6, when the carrier approaches its lower-- most position, engages a stop. II9, which is attached tothe adjacent track 26, swinging the outer end of the lever upwardly and turningthe valve-body II3 so that groove 98 is placed into communication with the atmosphere through the port H2 and at the same time is placed out of. communication with the suction pipe I03.

I also provide suction means to return the ball or balls to the return runway. This means is shown as embodying a preferably rigid tubular arm I20, provided at its forward end with a rubber suction cup I2I. The tubular arm has connection with a suction hose I22, connected with the source ofsuction. The numeral I23 designates a vertical shaft, which is capable of tuming upon its vertical axis, and this shaft is provided at its upper end with knuckles I24, to receive therebetween the knuckles I25 formed upon the tubular arm I20, the knuckles being pivotally connected by'a horizontal pin I26. The tubular arm I20 may therefore be swung'in a vertical with, and swung horizontally by a crank I26,

rigidly secured to the vertical shaft I23. Any

suitable means may be employed tomove the cranks I25 and I26.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The bed of the bowling alley having been raked and all pins removed therefrom, the carrier is 'in the uppermost position, and the pins 25 are introduced into the guards 'II, with their head ends down. The pins-25 may be fed'into the guards II by any suitable means, or they may be introduced therein-manually. When the carrier is thus in the uppermost position, the interior of the pipe or tubular frame 50 is connected with the source of suction, since port I00 is in permanent communication with the groove 98, and each valve body I06 is now in a position to place pipe I03 in communication with the source of vacuum I05; When the pins 25 are thus introduced into the guards 'II they are free to swing upon the upper rings I2 so that they will automatically assume true vertical positions, and when they descend into the guards II their head ends engage :the stems I0, opening the valves 69, and thereby supply suction to within the several suction cups 65. The suction cups now securely engage and hold the head ends of the pins. This suction remains supplied to the cups 65 and the carrier is started upon its descending movement by the operation of the motor 93, causing the cables 9| to pay out, the carrier descending by gravity. The movement of the carrier is at a proper speed to enable" the same to function correctly and should be relatively slow. As the carrier begins to descend, the setting frame 50 is arranged uppermost and the pins are held with their butt ends uppermost. When the carrier moves downwardly sufliciently, the roller I02 at each side of the carrier enters the inclined branch 30 and the 'arm' or crank IOI is accordingly shifted from its vertical position to an inclined position, which effects a tilting of the carrier upon its horizontal transverse axis as defined by the shafts 84. By the time the roller I02 reaches the curved portion 32 of 'the portion 29, the carrier has been tilted so that its weight tends to complete the tilting action, and the arm IN is now arranged above the setting-frame 50 instead. of below it, and as the carrier continues on its downward movement, the arm IOI continues to approach the vertical, until'the roller -I02 again .enters the track 26 below the branch 3I, at

which time, the carrier willhave been inverted and will be in a true horizontal position. When the roller passes through the branch 30, as explained, it is deflected by the. gate 42 into the branch 30 and passes the gate 35 and passes the gate 43 shifting it to aposition to cover the adjacent portion of the track 26 and enters the track 26 belowv the gate 43. *The carrier now continues to move downwardly until the. butt ends of the pins are placed upon the bed, directly over the spots and are -in concentric relation thereto, at which time the motor is stopped and rier starts to move upwardly, the valves I are operated to place the interior of the tubular spotting frame 50 in communication with the 5, atmosphere through the ports I01, "and cutting on communication with the source of suction or vacuum whereby the suction withincups Iii is completely broken. The pins being properly spotted and released, the motor is started to raise the carrier so that it will be out of the way when the player throws the first ball. As the carrier moves upwardly, the roller I02 will. travel in the track 26 until it engages the gate 03, previously shifted to the left, and the roller will is therefore travel throughv branch 3I, curved portion 32 and branch 33, and will pass gate 30 and reenter the vertical track 26 near and'beneath the gate 34. The arm IOI will thus turn the carrier in an opposite direction for one-half of 20,, a revolution to completely again invert the same, whereby the resetting frame 46 will be in the lowermost position and the setting frame 52 in the uppermost position. The motor is stopped and the carrier brought to rest at this point.'

- With the carrier held at this elevation, the player rolls the first ball, and if some of the pins remain standing, they must be raised, 'the bed raked to remove the knocked down pins, and the raised pins reset. Assuming that all. of the pins have not been knocked down, the motor is again started and the carrier descends to bring the resetting suction devices I0 into proper,- engagement with the head ends of the pins. -When each suction device I4 is brought into 86 proximity to the head end of the pin, three of the suction cups 11 will engage the head end of thepin and the valve stems 80 will contact with the head end of the pin, opening the valves 19, whereby the suction cups 11 are placed in communication with the source of suction, the valves 806 being now in a position to connect the pipe I03 with the source of'suction I05 and to cover the ports I 01. After this occurs the motor is stopped and the carrier is brought to rest, and the motor is reversed and the carrier raised.

. When the carrier was lowered, to bring the suction devices 14 into engagement with the head 1 ends of the pins, roller I02 travelled through the vertical track 26 and swung gate 43 to the right,

50 and upon the upward'movement of the carrier,"

last referred to, the roller I02 will. not enter branch 3|, but travels vertically through track 26 and will stop near and beneath the gate 34,

' as stated. While the carrier is thus elevated, 55 the bed is raked to remove the knocked down pins. This raking may be done by any suitable means or may be enacted manually. After the .bed is thus raked,- the motor is again started and the carrier is lowered, the roller continuing to v 60 travel in the vertical track 20 and passing gate 43 which is now at the right, Figure 5; The downward vmovement of the carrier continues .,until the pins have their butt ends set upon the When this occurs the carrieris stopped, valves I06 are manipulated to place the interior of the cups I1 into communication with the atmosphere and to break their communication withthesource of suction I05, whereby the vac,-

-uum or suction in the cups ,I'Lis completely the playing of duckpins, the carried-would again move down so that the-suction cups 11 would engage the remaining upstanding pins aud elevate the same permitting of the raking of the bed, and again reset these pins. The carrier would then move upwardly after resetting the 5 last pins and would continue its upward movement, the roller I 02 passing the gate 42, until the carrier reached its uppermost starting position,-

Figure 1, at which .point the pins would again be introduced into the guards I2. If only two 10 balls are employed, when the carrier was elevated aft'er resetting the pins for the first time, the

upward movement of the carrier'would be continued 'until the uppermost position were reached, for reloading with the pins. rier is now returned to the initial-starting posi; tion and the cycle of operation would be repeated.

The operation of the motor and the movement of the valves I06 may be manually effected, or 20 any suitable automatic means may be employed 5 to actuate the same, in. proper timed order.

' In Figure 20, I have shown the automatically operated valve to be substituted for the valve I06. When the carrier approaches its lowermost 25 position, to spot the pins, the lever II6 engages the stop I I9, and valve body I I3 is turned thereby 'normalposition. In a similar manner the suetion is automatically broken after the suction devices I! have reset the pins, and before the 40 cups I'I disengage the pins and remain unbroken until these cups have moved out'of engagement with the head ends of the pins.

. It is tobe understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to withoutv departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In-a bowling pin setting apparatus, a support adapted to assume a generally horizontal loading position, suction operated means carried by the support and facing upwardly to engage with the head ends of the inverted bowling -pins, and means to invert the support and move it downwardly to set the butt ends of the pins upon the bed in spotted playing arrangement.

2-. In a machine for manipulating bowling 6 pins, a support, a group of spaced suction pin setting devices arranged in spaced playing relationship near one side of the support and con- I nected therewith, a group of spaced suction pin resetting devices arranged in spaced playing ar- 5 rangem'ent near the opposite side of the support and connected therewith, and means to move the support vertically and invert the same.

3. In a machine for manipulating and setting bowling pins on an alley bed, a support, arranged I to overlie said bed, suction pin setting devices shaped to flt a rounded surface of the pins to hold a set of bowling pins arranged near one side of the support and said devices being connected therewith, suction pin resetting devices arranged :5

The car- 15 near the opposite side of the'support to hold a set of bowling pins and said devices being connected therewith, means to lower the support and invert the same, and means to raise the support and invert the same.

4. In apparatus for manipulating bowling pins, a support, hollow suction cups arranged near one side of the support with substantially the same relative positions and spacing asthe pins when spotted for playing and carried thereby to engage with the head end of the pins, similarly arranged'suction resetting devices carried by the support and arranged near the opposite .side thereof, each resetting device having a diameter larger than the head end of the pin and embodying a suction element constructed and arranged" to embrace and suctionally grip the rounded head end ofa bowling pin. w

5. A bowling pin setting machine for use with the bed of 'a bowling alley comprising in combination, a substantially vertical track adjacent said bed having a laterally extending branch, a support to travel longitudinally of the track above said bed, means connected with the support and including a part to travel longitudinally of the track and into the branch to invert the support, means to move the support longitudinally of the track, and pin holding meanscarried by the support, said pin holding means including a group of bowling pin holding devices in number, spacing and arrangement similar to' and pin holding means carried by the support and operating from the opposite sides of the support, said pin holding means including bowling pin holders for a set of bowling pins, said holders having the same arrangement as spotted pins on the alley bed.

7. In bowling pin setting apparatus,- a substantially-vertical track having a laterally extending branch leading into the track at spaced points, a second branch leading into the vertical track between its points of connectionwith .the first named branch and leading into the branch between its ends, 'a support movable longitudinally of the track, means connected with the support and including a part to engage with the track and itsbranches to be guided thereby,"a gate arranged near the upper end of the first named branch'to deflect the part into the upper end of the first named branch when the part moves downwardly, a gate arranged at the upper end of the second named branch to prevent the passage of the part into such branch when the part is travelling adjacent thereto in the vertical track, a gate arranged at the lower end of the second named branch to deflect the part into the second named branch when it is travelling upwardly in the first named branch, a double acting gate arranged adjacent to the lower end of the first named branch and shifted by, the part travelling downwardly in the branch and downwardly in the vertical track and to guide the part into the branch when it is travelling upwardly and into the vertical track whenit is travelling upwardly depending upon the shifted position which it occupies, a pin holding means carried by the support and operating from opposite sides thereof, and means to move the supportlongitudinally of the track.

, 8. In bowling pin setting apparatus for use with bowling alley beds, a support having a loading position and a setting position, suction means 10 with the bowling pins, said suction means facing carried by the support for holding engagement upwardly when the support is in the loading position for engagement with the bowlingpins for holding the bowling pins in a spaced triangular group corresponding to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins upon a bed and the base of the triangular. group being also then arranged remote from the pin .end of the bed, and means to hold the support in the loading position with Y said base remote from the pit end and to invert the support about an axis transverse to the alley bed so that said base is arranged nearer to the pit end and to set the butt ends ofthe pins upon the bed in substantial spotted relation.

I 9. In bowling pin setting apparatus, a support arranged near the pit end of a bowling alley bed, suction means carried by the support for holding engagement with a set of bowling pins, said suction means being constructed and arranged to hold the bowling pins in a spaced group corresponding in number and rrangementto the spotted arrangement of a set of bowling pins upon an alley bed and means to move the support toward and away from said bed to cause the suetion means to set the butt ends of the pins upon the bed in substantial spotted relation and means coacting with said suction means to cut oil the suction on the pins and release the same when the butt ends of the 'pins areon the bed.

10. An apparatus for setting pins on a bowling alley bed comprising in combination, a'support arranged near the pit end of said bowling alley bed, suction means carried by the support for holding engagement with a set of bowling pins constructed and arranged to set the butt ends of a set of bowling pins upon the bed in spaced spotted relation upon the movement of the sup port in one direction, and means to move the support in said direction for efiecting the spotting of the'pins upon said bed.

11. In bowling pin setting apparatus, a support arranged near the pit end of a bowling alley bed and having a loading position at an elevation above the bed, suction means carried by the support for holding engagement with a set of bowling pins, said suction means serving to hold a set of bowling pins in a spaced'group corresponding to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins upon a bed, and means to lower the support from the loading position to cause the suction means to set the butt ends of the bowling pins upon the bed in substantial spotted rela-' tion.

12. In apparatus for setting and resetting bowling pins upon a bowling alley, setting suction means arranged near the pit end of the bed and adapted to engage and hold a playing set of bowling pins in a group with the pins in the group spaced and arranged corresponding to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins upon a bed, resetting suction means arranged near the pit end of the bed and adapted to engage and hold a playing set of bowling pins in a group with the pins in' the group spaced and arranged corresponding to the spotted arrangement of bowlloo ing pins upon a bed and to alsoiengage and hold any number of pins less than a full playing set, and means to cause the setting suction means to set, the butt ends of the set of bowling pins upon the bed in suchspotted relation and to release the set pins and to subsequently cause the resetting suction means to engage the remaining standing pins and removes the same from the bed and then reset such remaining pins upon the responding to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins upon a bed, resetting suctiondevices carried by the support, and facing in a different direction relative to the setting suction devices and arranged in a group with the devices in the group spaced and arranged corresponding to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins" upon a bed, means to move the support in a cycle of operation to cause the suction setting devices to set the pins upon the bed and to move the support in a cycle of operation to cause the resetting suction devices to remove'the remaining standing pins from the bed and reset the same,

and means to turn the support during its set-,

ting cycle of operation to present the setting suction devices in operative relation to the bed and then the resetting suction devices in operative relation to the bed.

14. In apparatus for resetting bowling pins upon a bowling alley, resetting suction devices arranged near the pit end of the bed and disposed in a group with thedevices in the group spaced and arranged corresponding to the spotted arrangementof bowling pins upon a bed, said group being arranged in a generally horizontal plane, a valve forcontrolling the admission of suction to each suction device and having a pin engaging part arranged within such suction device, and means to simultaneously move all of the suction devices toward the alley so that certain of such suction devices will engage with the remaining standing pins and their valves will be actuated thereby while the valves of the suction devices not engaging the standing pins remain unactuated.

15. In apparatus for setting bowling pins upon a bowling alley bed, a support arranged near the pin end of the bed, suction devices carried by the Support and facing away from one side of the support and arranged in a group with the devices in the group spaced and arranged corresponding'to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins upon a bed, means for supporting the support in a generally horizontal position with the suction devices facing upwardly, and pin guiding devices carried by the support and extending above the suction devices when such suction devices face upwardly; the guiding devices serving to locate and conduct the head end of pins into contact with the suction dethe support and arranged in a group with the devices in the group spaced and arranged cprresponding to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins upon a bed, means for supporting the support in a generally horizontal position with the suction devices facing upwardly, bowling pin-receiving guards constructedand arranged to surround pins engaged by said suction devices, said guards being carried by the. support and corresponding innumber and arrangement to the suction devices and extending above the suction devices when the suction devices face upwardly, and means to turn tlie support to invert the same so that the suction devices face downwardly, said guards being substantially rig- 1'7. An apparatus for setting and resetting bowling pins upon a bowling alley bed on which a set of pins is to, be set in spaced playing arrangement, comprising a support arranged near the pit end'of the bed; separate triangular groups of bowling pin engaging and holding devices mounted upon the support, the devices in each triangular group being spaced and disposed corresponding to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins upon a bed, the devices in one-group having their pin engaging portions facing generally in an opposite direction to the devices in the other group to hold the pins of the respective groups extending in opposite directions from said support and one triangular group having the base of its triangle arranged next to-the apex of the other group, and means to" turn the support about an axis transverse to. the length of the alley bedso that the bases of the triangular groups may be alternately arranged nearest to the pit end of the bed.

18. In apparatus for setting and resetting bowling pins upon a bowling alley bed, a support arranged near' the pit end of the bed,'a group of spaced bowling pins setting devices mounted upon the support in spotted playing relationcupied upon the bed, and means to turn the support. c

19. Apparatus for setting bowling pins upon a bowling alley bed comprising, a support separate from said bed arranged near the pit end .of the bed, bowling pin 'engagingand holding devices formed to receive a portion of the handle end of the pins carried by the support and means to invert the support and move the same toward said bed so that'the devices may place the butt ends of the pins upon the bowling alley bed and means to release'said pins when the butt ends thereof are on said bed.

20. In apparatus for setting'bowling pins upon. a bowling'alley bed, a support arranged near the bed, bowling pin engaging and holding devices adapted to receive inverted bowling pins, and k carried-by thesupport, and means to invert the support and guard means arranged to surround the body portion of the pins and hold the pins against lateral displacement as a result of the inverting ofsaid support. l

21. In apparatus for setting and resetting bowling pins upon a bowling alley bed, a single support, setting devices mounted upon the support to engage the bowling pins and set the same upon the bed in a triangular group in spaced spotted relation, resetting suction devices to engage the standing pins remaining after a ball is thrown and remove the same from the bed and return the same to the bed in the same position previously occupied, and means for imparting successive movements to the support to first cause the setting devices to set pins upon the bowling alley bed and, secondly, to cause said resetting devices to engage and lift standing pins,-

- and means coacting with said devices for releasing the pins when adjacent the alley during the first movement and for rendering operative the suction on the pins when engaged by the resetting devices. 77 22. In apparatus for resetting bowling pins upon a bowling alley bed, a suction device arranged near the pit end of the alley and having a range of action suflicient to enable it to engage a bowling pin-standing upon the bed eccentric or concentric with respect to its spotted position and to lift the standing pin from the bed and return the same to the bed at the same position previously occupied, a bowling pin actuated valve for controlling the suction within the suction device, and means to move the suction device to cause the same to engage the pin. and lift it from the bed and replace thesame upon the bed.

23. In apparatus for resetting bowling pins upon a bowling alley bed, a group of suction devices arranged near the pit end of the alley; a support on which said suction devices are disposed in spaced relation corresponding generally to the spotted relation of bowling pins upon an alley bed, each suction device having a range of action sufiicient to enable it to engage a bowling pin standing upon the bed eccentric or concentric with-respect to'its spotted position and to lift the standing pin from the bed and return the same to the bed at the same position previously occupied, and means to impart movement to'saidsupport to bring said suction devices into contact withstanding pins on said bed and to thereafter lift and return said' pins, and means to render the suction in said devices efiective prior to the lifting movementthereof and ineffective subsequent to the return movement thereof.

24. In apparatus for setting and resetting bowl-- ing pins upon a bowling alley bed, a group of suction pin setting devices arranged near the pit end of the alley and adapted to engage bowling pins and set them upon the alley in proper spotted relation, a group of resetting suction devices arranged in spotted playing formation near the pit end ofthe alley, the resetting group facing generally in an opposite direction from the setting group, each device of the resetting group having a range of action suflicient to enable it to engage a bowling pin standing upon the bed eccentric or concentric with respect to its spotted position and to lift the standing pin from the bed and return the same to the bed at the same position previously occupied, a common support for the groups'of suction devices, and means to move the support.

25. In a machine for manipulating bowling pins, a supporting structure arranged near the pit end of the bed of the alley, a carriage mounted upon the supporting structure, a triangular group of suction devices mounted upon the carriage for holding engagement with the head ends of the bowling pins, and means to lower the carriage and invert the same.

26. In apparatus for setting pins on a bowling alley, a means at the pin spotting end of the alley including a suction device having a range of action suflicient to enable it to engage and lift a pin standing on the alley concentricor eccentric with respect to its proper position thereon, mechanism for imparting pin engaging, removingand replacing motions to the device, a means for creating suction in the device during the pin engaging, removing and replacing motions thereof imparted thereto by said mechanism, whereby the device will engage the standing pin, remove it from the alley, and replace said pin upon said alley where it was before,

2'7. An elevator mounted above the pin spotting end of the alley, a plurality of vacuum controlled pin engaging devices mounted on the elevator in triangular formation, mechanism for repeatedly lowering and raising the elevator and devices, during the cycle of operation of said apparatus, and.vacuum producing means connected with all of the devices and operable during said cycle to render any one of said device effective to grip a pin within its range of action left standing on the alley, lift the pin therefrom,

lower and replace the pinon said alley, and thenv release said pin.

28. In apparatus for resetting bowling pins, a supporting structure arranged near the pit end of the bed of an alley, an elevator arranged at the supporting structure, a group of suction cups arranged in spotted playing arrangement upon one side of the elevator and secured thereto and adapted to receive therein the head ends of the bowling pins, means to create and break suction within the suction cups, a second group of suction cups arranged in spotted playing arrange.- ment upon the opposite side of the elevator and secured thereto, the second group extending in an opposite direction to the first group so that the apex of one group is adjacent to the base of the other group, the suction cups in the second group having a range of action greater than the diameter-of the head of the pins for holding engagement with the head ends of the standing pins when ,they are eccentric or concentric with respect to the spots without shifting the pins laterally, means to create and break suction within the second group of cups, means to raise,

its downward movement.

29. In an apparatus for setting bowling pins, mechanism for setting pins on a bowling alley bed in spotted relation including a support, suction devices on said support formed to fit-the rounded surfaces of a bowling pin and corresponding in number to the number of pins to be set associated with the rear end of the bowling alley bed, means on said support providing on said support in a triangular group corresponding to the spotted arrangement of pins on the suction on said cups when the pins are in the last-mentioned position, to complete the setting which is relatively free from wear and means for moving said support back and forth between a position remote from said alley bed to a setting position adjacent said alley bed.

31. In a bowling pin setting apparatus, the

combination with open ended pin receiving ele-' ments each arranged to receive a bowlingpin head end first, said receivers being of generally into upright position.

conical formation with the base of the cone open to receive the upper portion of the pin and to conform substantiallyto the taper thereof, and

' mea'nscooperating with said receivers for, holding said receivers with the open base of the ,cone up to receive the pins in inverted position and acting to invert said holders to bring the p 32. In bowling 'pin setting apparatus, a support arranged near the pit end of a bowling alley, a spaced group of suction cups carried bythe support and corresponding to the spotted arrangement of bowling pins upon the bed, the suction cups being adapted to engage with the tapered extremities of the head ends of the standing pins, 'each suction cup having an effective diameter less than the maximum diameter of the head end of the pin so that it receives only the,

reduced extremity of the head end which'is relatively free from injury, and means to move the support to cause the suction cups to lift the standing pins from the bed and reset the same thereon.

33. Ina pin setting apparatus for use with a bowling alley bed, the combination with-a pin setter mechanism movable into an operating position adjacent to and overlying the bed to set the pins in upright position on said bed, of a pin resetter mechanism also movable'to aposition adjacent to and overlying the bedto engage, lift 5 e and, again set standing pins on-said bed, and

. means for moving one ofsaid mechanisms to a position remote from thebed and its pin setting position adjacent the bed when the other mech-" anism is in its settingposition adjacent said bed, said pin resetter mechanism including pin holdin'g devices having a range of action suiiicient-to engage of! spot pins and reset them in the same.

' of! spot position.

means mounting said carriage for vertical move bed of an alley an elevator to be raised and low- 34. A pin setterfor cooperating withja bowling alley bed comprising in combination a carriage,

ment toward and away from said bed, a setter .frame ,'pivot structure supporting said frame on said carriage for rotating about a substantially horizontal axis, a. plurality of hollow suction cups constructed to embrace and grip th'e'tapered ban die ends of a set of bowling pins, and operating means to rotate the frame on said pivot means, 1

in timed relation-to said vertical carriage movement to first present said suction cups in an upwardly directed positionto receive and grip the-pins hi inverted position, and then turn the pins'to upright position with their butts adof the plnsnand a set of suctionresetting devices facing oppositely to said cups to engage and lift standing pins, each of said devices being so constructed and arranged that its range of action is extended over an area greater than the diameter of the head ends of the pins in order to pick up of! spot pins, and operating means including mechanism tolower said carriage while said resetting devices facedownwardly to bring the resetting devices into contact with the standing pins and raise the same to lift the. pins and again lower the same to return the standing pins to' the alley bed, and means to start the suction in said devices when thesame are lowered into contact with the standing pins and stop the suction therein when the pins are returned to the alley.

35. A bowling pin setting machine for use with the bed of a bowling alley comprising in combination a guide adjacent said bed, a carriage mounted to travel longitudinally upon said guide toward and away from said-bed, a support positioned over said-'bedand pivotally mounted on the carriage to travel thereon toward and away from the bed and to turn upon its axis, a group of bowling pin holding devices constructed and arranged to hold a set of the pins in substantially playing arrangement, means to move said carriage on said guide toward and away from said bed, and mechanism for turning said support on said axis.

36. In a pin setting machine for bowling alleys, thecombination with an alley adapted to support a plurality of pins arranged in playing position and adjacent one end thereof, of a pin setting table provided with a plurality of suction 'pin spotting element's formed to engage a rounded surface oi the bowling pins, mechanism for resetting upon said alley pins which were. left standing after the throwing of a ball, and means associated with said elements responsive to the presence or absence of pins standing on said'alley for operating said elements to hold said standing pins for resetting.

37. Bowling pin setting apparatus for use with a bowling alley bed comprising in combination a support arranged near the pit end of said bed,-.

ered, pin engaging devices carried by said elevator, constructed and arranged to support, a

set of bowling Pins in playing arrangement, means for moving said elevator from pin receivingto pin setting position, and mechanism for holding "pins in said devices, comprising "fluid op- V erated members, and means for directing fluid to said members to cause them to hold said pins in said devices during the movementof said pins from said receiving position until they are located in said arrangement upon said alley bed. 'GO'II'FRIED J. 

